Philippe Petit
Philippe Petit
Philippe Petitis a French high-wire artist who gained fame for his high-wire walk between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, on the morning of August 7, 1974. For his unauthorized feat1,350 feetabove the ground, he rigged a 450-poundcable and used a custom-made 26-footlong, 55-poundbalancing pole. He performed for 45 minutes, making eight passes along the wire. The following week, he celebrated his 25th birthday. All charges were dismissed in exchange for him doing a...
NationalityFrench
ProfessionPerformance Artist
Date of Birth13 August 1949
CityNemours, France
CountryFrance
When I was six years old, I fell in love with magic. For Christmas, I got a magic box and a very old book on card manipulation. Somehow, I was more interested in pure manipulation than in all the silly little tricks in the box.
I was in art school once a week from six to 16, which was essential in shaping my artistic sensitivity.
If I have to make a self-portrait, I would put poetry and rebellion on the list. To be able to walk on a wire, to be able to juggle six hoops, you need focus, another word for tenacity, which is passion.
I started very early, from five or six years old, to climb. To climb trees, to climb rocks everywhere I could. At some point, of course, I used a rope.
There is a child inside me that wants to come out and do something to surprise all the adults.
Truly, from a very early age, I started distancing myself from other kids, not out of willingness, but just out of the nature of my energy. I liked to do things solely, and I already had a taste of the quest for perfection, which is unusual in a little kid.
Everybody wanted me to be rich and famous on my art. And I said no to all the commercials and all the seedy offers.
Every year, I am conscious of the anniversary of my 1974 World Trade Center walk.
Faith is what replaces doubt in my dictionary.
When a loved one disappears, you continue to live with the accompaniment of that person. One has to find a balance between joy and sorrow.
I have been performing in the street for more than 50 years: magic for basically 60 years, and the high wire 45 years. The beauty of it is that it's never the same. It's never easy. And yet, part of my art is to make it look easy.
I didn't go to school much. I was thrown out of different schools, and my university is the street.
I am a wire-walker. I can walk any time, anywhere - I'm indestructible.
My journey has always been the balance between chaos and order.